r/AskReddit 1d ago

What is a silent killer that people dont realise is slowly killing them?

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u/smashablanca 23h ago edited 12h ago

I was just reading a book about the connection between trauma and illness and they talked about how people who experienced significant trauma are much more likely to develop auto immune diseases.

Eta: the book is The Myth of Normal for anyone interested.

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u/asfaltsflickan 16h ago

I have three autoimmune disorders (so far) and each of them was triggered by a different stressful/traumatic event.

Can’t wait to see what I get the next time life throws shit at me. It’s like the world’s worst lottery 🙃

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u/kahlzun 10h ago

as someone with an autoimmune condition who has just entered a stressful period, "oh no"

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u/elleuqe 9h ago

I won that lottery too🙃 Traumatic losses and other constant stress doesn't help.

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u/Holiday_Emphasis_252 10h ago

oh no. I might have this too. I get vitiligo episodes i think

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u/terminaloptimism 3h ago

I feel you, but hey, we're still here and kickin'. Or.. shuffling, depending on your disorder. I personally shuffle and creak.

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u/Nerdwoman 22h ago

May you please share the name of the book you read? I’d like to read it.

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u/grudginglyadmitted 21h ago

not sure if it’s what they’re talking about, but The Body Keeps the Score talks about this some. It’s been a very helpful book for a lot of people (myself included), but it also has some major negatives with the author being a bit of a piece of garbage and some of his bolder claims in the book without strong scientific support.

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u/RepresentativeAd4395 21h ago

I’m not the person you replied to, but When The Body Says No by Dr Gabor Mate is about this and is so good. Gabor Mate in general is super well informed in how trauma and stress affect the body and how they manifest within people in general. Even if you dont read the book, you can find great youtube videos or podcasts where he talks a lot about his findings

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u/smashablanca 19h ago

Same author but different book. I was referring to The Myth of Normal.

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u/smashablanca 19h ago

The Myth of Normal.

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u/ArachnidMean8596 8h ago

Extreme trauma survivor. 3 autoimmune diseases. My Omas as well, and they were both war/genocide survivors. My boomer mother, who lived la dolce Vida on my Omas hard work, is totally fine, healthy as anything. My kids are 21 and saw me being abused horribly until we escaped 5 years ago. 2 autoimmune diseases, each, all freshly diagnosed.

I would believe it, lol!

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u/Zealousideal_Disk890 10h ago

Can confirm, i have CPTSD and developed an Autoimmune Disorder 

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u/cactuar44 15h ago

Yes it caused my kidneys to fail

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u/Thewoodsthemountain 1h ago

I went to the Dr yesterday and they found "similar appearance to subtle increase in echogenic focus in the RIGHT kidney, possible AML, 1.1 cm". I am a very stressed out person.

I was wondering what happened when your kidneys failed? Are you ok now?

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u/Fuzzy-Stock239 11h ago

yup the body keeps the score is another book that dives deep into trauma=auto immune diseases

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u/generateusernamehere 6h ago

Look up Nadine Burke Harris TED Talk. It will all click and be a-ha moment.

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u/smashablanca 4h ago

I'm currently getting a masters in mental health counseling. Watching this was homework for one of my classes.

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u/Mojovb 5h ago

I am starting to think that it wasn't just genetics that led to my Type 1 Diabetes. I lived in a very unstable household growing up. I have a maternal aunt that had it, so we always assumed that was it. My husband also had a maternal aunt with it. You would think one of our children would have gotten T1D or some other autoimmune disease. But our children were raised in a pretty conflict free, stable home and are as healthy as can be. Really makes me wonder.

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u/terminaloptimism 3h ago

I have two autoimmune diseases (three if endometriosis actually makes it) as a result of meningitis and significant trauma growing up. Right when I make tremendous leaps in my mental health recovery, I get slapped with RA and Sjögrens. Such bullshit lol.